Elevator safety



(No Model.)

J. D. UONNER. ELEVATOR SAFETY APPLIANCE.

N0.599,523. Patented Feb. 29 1898.

flg z 9 7316' a 11mm Ill 3 MW] mu lllllllll e lllllllllllllllllllflllllllllllll lgiinessear 42m??? 722? 56MMJM% I g 15 J MMOWEZ JOHN D. CONNER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES S. MOCARTNEY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELEVATOR SAFETY APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,523, dated February 22, 1898. Application filed August 22, 1896. Serial No. 603,604. (No model.)

To 61/ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN D. OONNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Elevator Safety Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to devices which may be applied to elevators for the twofold purpose of preventing a door being opened until the elevator has been brought to a standstill and of preventing the elevator being thereafter started until all the doors are closed.

My present invention has for its object to improve that portion of the appliance which forms a part of or is connected with the controlling connections of the elevator or which is otherwise brought into cooperation therewith to control its movement in carrying out the objects of the invention.

My present invention is applicable to many difierent forms of mechanism by which the appliance as a whole is brought under the control of the doors; but I prefer to use it and shall here describe it in connection with such mechanism as patented to The Conner Elevator Safety Appliance Company under date of July 28, 1896, No. 564,956. In said patent is described a lever projecting normally in the path of the door, so as to be swung upon its fulcrum and to pass down beneath the door upon the opening of the lat ter, and a link through which movement is imparted by said lever to a locking-bolt which engages a controlling connection of the elevator. Unless the controlling connection is in the position assumed when the elevator is at rest the bolt cannot be projected, and when the bolt is projected the controlling connections cannot be moved until the bolt is withdrawn.

My present invention consists in features of novelty which will now be fully described, and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an elevator-shaft and its door in connection with which my invention is shown applied; and Fig. 2 represents the shifting appliance, which receives motion from the controlling connect-ions and impart-s the effective portions thereof to the locking mechanism. Fig. 3 is an edge view of said shifting mechanism. Figs. 4 and 5 represent simplified forms of door connections which are illustrative of some of the substitutes which might be made for that described in the patent hereinbefore referred to and with which my invention is shown in combination. Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate, respectively, the locking-bolt and the locking-link, which are constructed for cooperation in performing the twofold function of the appliance. Figs. 8 and 9 respectively represent views of the bearings in which the link and the lockingbolt reciprocate.

It will be understood that there is a link and a locking-bolt, together with the door connections, at each landing, door, or other place to be protected, and that all of these are operated, preferably, by a single shifting mechanism, which is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. It will therefore be necessary to describe but a single set or group of the locking con nections in addition to the shifting mechanism, which are reproduced in each place.

1 represents the wall, and 2 the door, of the elevator-shaft, and 3 a means through which the elevator machinery is controlled and which I shall hereinafter term the controlling connection. For purposes of illustrating my invention I have shown said controlling connection to be an ordinary rope or cable, which is understood to connect and control the valve or other mechanical device which governs the transmission of the motive power. At each landing or other place where there is a door to be protected I locate suitable door connections 4-such, for instance, as described in the Letters Patent hereinbefore referred to and which need not be here described further than to say that they are so constructed that on the one hand they project a bolt 5 outwardly as the door is opened and hold said bolt in projected position so long as the door remains open, and on the other hand said door connections prevent the opening of said door when the outward movement of said bolt is opposed.

6 represents a box or mounting formed with a vertical channel 7, within which reciprocates a locking-link 8, and a lateral recess 9, in which works the end of the bolt 5. The

upper portion of Fig. 8 shows an end view of this box, while the right-hand portion of the view shows a capplate 10, which fits over and completes the box for the parts which move therein. There is one of these boxes 6 with a link cooperating with the bolt 5 and the door connections at each landing or other place. Each link 8 has a depression 11, and said links are connected by rods or their equivalents 12 in a vertical series, so that they may all be controlled by a common shifting mechanism located at a suitable point, preferably the top of the series. The parts are so arranged that when the elevator is at a standstill the depressions 11 of all the links are opposite their corresponding bolts 5, and, the latter being unopposed, any door can be opened. Moreover, while the door remains open the bolt remains in said depression and the link cannot be moved. Now inasmuch as the series of links is connected with the controlling connections of the elevator the latter is locked against movement, and the elevator cannot be started so long as any door remains open. On the other hand, when the straight portion of the link 8 is opposite the bolt 5, which position it assumes before the slightest movement of the elevator can take place and keeps until the controlling connections are brought to stopping position, the bolt cannot be projected nor the door opened so long as the elevator is moving. The bolt 5 has a round shaft 5" for the greater portion of its length and a flattened beveled end 5 for engaging thelink. The round portion of the bolt works in a bearing 15. (Illustrated in Fig. 9.) The link 8 is formed with an inclined lower side 11 to the depression 11, which engages the beveled end of the bolt and tends to throw said bolt out by a positive cam action when the controlling connect-ions are shifted to start the elevator, and the bolt is therefore not dependent upon a withdrawing-spring. The cam action is obviously ineffective, however, eXcept the door be closed.

In Fig. 4 a block 4, having an end projecting normally in the path of the door, has direct connection with the bolt 5 and is mounted by inclined slots and pins, so that after alimited movement its projecting end passes beneath the door and a similar eifectis obtained to that produced in the preferred form. Fig. 5 differs from the preferred form in that the bolt 5 is connected directly with the lever without intermediate connections. From the nature of the link 8, which I have described, it isobvious that one or more floors may be equipped with such links, and they will cooperate with any form of bolt which reciprocates with the opening and closing of the door. These parts constitute the locking device, and, so far as concerns this link 8, it may beoperated by any mechanism which will shift it up and down simultaneously with the movements of the controlling connections which effect the starting and stopping of the elevator; but I prefer to use the form of shifting device which I will now describe, and

which will impart a limited movement to the link sufficient to lock the door just before the elevator is started and a short movement to unlock the door each time the elevator is stopped, all the additional movement or slack due to the lap of the controlling-valve or to other causes being taken up by said device.

From Figs. 2 and 3 it will be seen that the rod or other connection 12, which extends up from the uppermost link 8 of the series, is threaded at 12 into a stem 14, which has a vertical bearing 15 on a frame or casting 16 and passes through the yoke 17, which normally rests upon the step 15, formed by the bearing 15, the stem being held in the yoke by jam-nuts 18. A pair of racks 19 are mounted to slide vertically in the frame 16 and have their lower ends 20 pass down through the yoke 17 and provided with lifting-washers 21, which are held at any desired distance beneath the yoke by jam-nuts 22. By this means when either rack is moved upward the yoke will be raised as soon as its lifting-washer 21 comes in contact with the yoke, and by the adjustability of these washers this contact may be made to take place sooner or later and any desired amount of lost motion thereby provided for. To raise the racks, they engage on opposite sides of a pinion 23, suitably journaled and boXed in the frame 16, and this pinion 23 receives movement from a grooved pulley 24, which is preferably mounted upon the same shaft 25 with the pinion 23, but which could obviously have driving connection with such pinion through less direct means if it should be desired to change the relation of movement between them. For instance, I also employ, by preference, an idler 26, working in an oilbath 27 and gearing with the pinion 23 for the purpose of keeping the latter lubricated, and obviously the pulley 24 could be mounted upon the shaft 28 of this idler and the movement imparted to the pinion correspondingly reduced. 29 is an idler which also meshes with the pinion 28 for the purpose of distributing the oil thereover. 30 is an auxiliary or shunt rope or cable, which is shown spliced to the main controlling rope or cable and passing over guide-pulleys 31 to and from the grooved pulley 24 for the purpose of imparting to said pulley 24 a movement corresponding in direction andtimeto the movements which start and stop the elevator when going in either direct-ion. in whatever direction the rope 3 is moved the yokefl17 will be raised by one or other of the racks 19 when the movement of the rope is to start the elevator and the yoke will be returned to a position of rest as the elevator is brought to rest.

By the adj ustability of the lifting connections for the yoke it will be seen that all lost motion can be taken up, so as to cause the locking mechanism to be rendered effective or ineffective only as the elevator-controlling connections reach their effective points. By

It will be seen that effective points I mean that point which is reached by the valve in starting when the first flow of the operating medium or transmission of the actuating power takes place and the point which is reached in stopping when the motive power is entirely out off. It will further be seen that by the adjustability of the connections 12, which may each be provided with a turnbuckle 32, the position of the locking-links may always be adjusted to a nicety. One important advantage of this is that complete accuracy as to the time of locking and unlocking is obtained, while there is absolutely no inteference with the manipulation of the controlling connections up to the actual point of starting, so that all slack and lost motion can be taken up by the operator during the time of closing the door or even before, and the elevator is ready to start the instant the door is closed. This obviously results in much saving of time and practically does away with a most common source of objection to safety appliances-loss of time incident to their use.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a safety appliance to be applied to elevator-shaft doors, the combination of a locking device for the door having a limited reciprocating movement, a shifting device operated by the means for controlling the elevator and a connection between the locking device and the shifting device constructed to permit lost motion between the opposite limits of its movement whereby the locking device is reciprocated only as the controlling mechanism commences or ceases its motion to start or stop the elevator; substantially as herein explained.

2. In a safety appliance to be applied to elevator-shaft doors the combination of the locking device for the door, having a limited reciprocating movement, ashifting device operated by the means which controls the movement of the elevator, a working connection between said shifting device and the locking device constructed to convert opposite movements of the shifting device into movements of one direction and to transmit them to the locking device, substantially as herein 6X plained.

3. In an automatic safety lookin g appliance for elevators, the combination of a bolt having working connections whereby it is projected by the opening of a door, and a link having working connections whereby it is shifted by the stopping and the starting of the elevator, and having a depression which is brought opposite the bolt when the elevator is at rest and which is provided with a cam-face for positively throwing out the bolt upon starting the elevator after the door is closed, as herein explained.

4. In an automatic safety locking appliance for elevators, the combination of a boxing having a vertical guide and a lateral inter secting guide, a link having connections whereby it is shifted at the starting and the stopping of the elevator and which reciprocates in the vertical guide and which is provided with a depression brought opposite the lateral guide when the elevator is at rest, and a bolt having a flattened end working in said lateral guide and the rounded shank working in a bearing, and means whereby said bolt is projected by the opening of a door, as eX- plained.

5. In an automatic safety locking appliance to be applied to elevator-shaft doors, the combination of a reciprocating locking device for the door and a shifting mechanism for controlling the locking device comprising a yoke having connections for moving said locking device, a pair of racks each engaging the yoke, a pinion engaging the racks on its opposite sides whereby one of said racks always moves in the direction for shifting the yoke, and working connections whereby the pinion is rotated in opposite directions by the movements of the 'means employed for stopping and starting the elevator, as explained.

6. In an elevator safety appliance, the combination of a locking device to be applied to the elevator-shaft door and a shifting mechanism for said locking device comprising a yoke having connections with said locking device the pair of racks each having means for engaging the yoke in one direction, a pinion engaging the racks on opposite sides whereby it always moves one of the racks into engagement with the yoke, connections whereby the pinion is rotated in opposite directions simultaneously with the opposite movements of the means employed for stopping and starting the elevator, and means on the racks for adjusting the points of their engagement at will, in order to take-up lost motion, as explained.

7. In an elevator safety appliance, the combination of a locking device to be applied to an elevator-shaft door the stem 14, having controlling connection with said locking device, a frame having a bearing in which said stem slides, a yoke with which the said stem is connected and which rests normally upon the bearing, a pair of racks also having sliding bearings in said frame and having their ends projecting beyond the yoke and there provided with nuts threaded for adjustment and arranged to engage the yoke in one direction, the pinion having bearing in the frame and engaging the racks on opposite sides whereby rotation of the pinion always moves one of the nuts in engagement with the yoke, the pulley having driving connection with the pinion, and mounted on said frame, and means whereby said pulley receives motion in opposite directions from the means employed for controlling the elevator, as explained.

8. In an elevator safety appliance, the combination of a locking-bolt projected by the opening of a door, a link havinga notch which must be brought opposite the bolt to permit ing connection with the elevator-controlling projection of the latter, a shifting mechanmechanism, as explained.

ism, comprising a yoke, an adjustable conneetion between said link and yoke, a pair JOHN CONNER' of racks alternately engaging the yoke in Witnesses:

the same direction, and the pinion impart- WV. H. DAVIS, ing movement to the racks and having work- H. EDDOWES. 

